The partial oxidation of n-butane

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Abstract

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The study of the partial oxidation of n-butane was carried out in a porcelain reactor having an inside diameter of 1 inch, and an adjustable length from 0 to 30 inches. The tube was equipped with traverse gear to allow measurement of both temperature and velocity gradients across the outlet section. Electric heaters were mounted on the wall of the reactor tube for obtaining the desired reaction temperatures. Supplementary to the reactor, equipment was provided to meter and preheat the butane and oxygen. A gas chromatograph was developed to provide analysis of the expected product gases, namely CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, C3H8, C4H8, C4H10, CO, CO2, H2, H2O, AND O2. The composition of the product stream from the reactor was correlated with the reaction variables of time, temperature, and inlet oxygen composition by means of a multiple regression analysis. Also, by the same technique, the degree of conversion of butane was studied on the basis of assumed rate equations.

The reaction rate data for the n-butane oxidation were correlated on the basis of the following rate equation: [...]. A minimum reaction rate for the oxidation of n-butane was observed at [...].

The thermal decomposition data were found to correlate best on the basis of the following second order rate equation: [...].

The application of the rate equations for the partial oxidation and the thermal decomposition of n-butane is restricted to the range of the experimental investigation, namely one atmosphere, 360°-760°C and 0-25% inlet oxygen concentration.

The correlation of the product distribution data by means of the multiple regression analysis is represented graphically as moles of component formed per 100 moles of butane feed versus inlet oxygen concentrations for several parametric values of retention time and temperature over the range of conditions investigated.